Pick 15 - Heat Pump

The promotional flyer arrived in the mail a year after my new heat pump was installed. It boldly proclaimed:

E-power Peak Saver is a new voluntary program for 2011 that works to reduce peak electricity use during the high demand summer months by cycling residential and commercial central air conditioners/heat pumps throughout the PPL Electric Utilities territory. As a participant, you help maintain
electricity reliability throughout our area and keep electricity prices lower over time.

 I was not looking for hidden value at the time. I just wanted to get out from under the heating oil situation I encountered that winter. It had two parts. First, because I had not signed a pre-set price agreement with my oil delivery company for that season, I was charged the highest price of the season for my Spring fill up. This, despite the fact that the spot price for heating oil had gone below the pre-set price they wanted. Second, during the annual servicing of my oil furnace, I was informed that the 30-year old oil tank in my basement was showing signs of degradation and could start leaking in the near future. I foolishly had built the tank into an enclosure when I constructed the family room in my basement. Removal and replacement of the tank would be a major and costly project. But the process for cleaning up a heating oil spill is regulated by the EPA and even more difficult and costly.  I also learned that my Homeowners Policy had no coverage for leaking oil tanks unless it was caused by an earthquake, tornado, or hurricane. So in a spirit of American exceptionalism, and against the tide of family opinion, I decided to replace my 7-year old oil furnace and central air system with a quiet and energy efficient heat pump. It not only qualified for a state and federal tax rebate but promised to pay for itself in 7 years based on projected heating oil and electricity costs over that period. Since the installation was to be done by the same company that delivered my heating oil they agreed to remove the oil tank at no cost. Business was slow for them so the sale and installation of anything was a good thing. It hit the tipping point in my mind and I signed on the dotted line. The value was self-evident.

To my amazement, everything went better than expected. The tank removal was done on schedule as promised and mid-winter my heating source was transformed from oil to electricity. I held my breath when the next electric bill arrived in the mail.  The period covered had been record cold and qualified as a worst case scenario for the Pump. When I opened the bill I breathed a deep sigh of relief. Competitive electric rates along with a frugal temp setting of 65-degrees had netted netted us a cost savings compared to our oil heating system.

But back to the hidden value of the E-power Peak Saver program. I learned today that cycling the compressor in economy mode while continuously circulating the air in my house can maintain the temperature I set at a lower cost than allowing the compressor and fan to operate in tandem.   This seems counter intuitive because the fan runs the entire time. Only the compressor is cycled.  But it works! I I would not have known that if I had not signed on for this unique program. God bless American ingenuity.   

$tokens to Tip the Pickers

1 $token - 1.00 USD3 $tokens - 3.00 USD5 $tokens - 5 USD 12345